LIFE CHANGING COMMUNITY

Wouldn't be easy if life were always enjoyable, fun, and relaxed? In an ideal fantasy that may happen, however, if we are real with each other and ourselves, we know that life is not always easy.  Often, it is fraught with challenges and difficulties. Yet, in times of trials and hardship, we grow.  Our thinking is challenged, causing us to reevaluate what is important, and what can be left behind. No one enjoys the challenging times in our lives. Do you stop and listen to those who have overcome difficulties in their lives? I don't mean just hearing the story, but really listening. If you truly listen, hear the message of what they went through but more importantly, hear the message of how they have grown through the challenges thrown at them. What challenges have you encountered in your life? Everything was going very well, life was enjoyable.  Suddenly, an unexpected challenge of employment, health, or housing stands up against you like a giant threatening you.  How do you re

Recently, I was reading some notes taken from a Sunday Church service. One of the notes I took caught my attention: “There is an ever-increasing demand on us to meet people’s needs and demands. We also place expectations on ourselves. We put ourselves under pressure thinking others have expectations of us. We feel that we're underproductive if we aren't busy.   We forget to stop and breathe. ” Wow! Then I read further down my notes to find, “We have to be careful with our busyness.   There's a tension in our busyness.   We have families, work, and life”. Again, ‘wake-up call’ to me! The challenge? What is sacrificed when we become too busy? Relationships? Church on Sunday? Bible study? Prayer? Rest? How do we manage expectations? Our expectations and the expectations of others? Philippians 1:1-11 especially verses 9 and 10, which reads, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, tha

My current phone wallpaper reminds me to "trust God in the process".   The Bible reference is Ecclesiastes 3:11, which tells us, "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT. Life happens.  Change happens.  Unexpected moments happen.  To whom do we turn to? Who do we trust? People? Why? People hurt people, use people, and exploit situations to their benefit. If you want to make a positive life change in you and your community (however you define community) then begin by understanding, we cannot know the beginning from the end.  We go one step at a time, having plans, which may change unexpectedly. Unlike God, we cannot see everything from beginning to end.   Life is an adventure; sometimes you scream, sing, and shout.  In all this, whether expected or not, we need to ask ourselves, what positive action can come out

How often do you take the time to appreciate the little things in life? If you woke up this morning, had you coffee or tea, spoke with those with you do life, then appreciate these small, but important events. Often, we are so busy doing life, we forget that we are human ‘beings’. We long to ‘be’ – loving, living, enjoying, appreciating. However, life happens, and too often, all we do is go-through-the-motions of existing. If you didn’t do some things, what catastrophe would occur? If you didn’t wash for one day, or didn’t check your email 20 times a day but shut the system for a day to spend with others, or rake time for yourself? These are questions I ask myself. With social media, taking on N-F-P roles, and daily tasks around the home, it’s easy to be 24/7 connected and have information overload. Today, what action can you take to ‘be’ instead of ‘doing’? Something to reflect on.

How important is communication? The dictionary defines communication as “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior”, “a verbal or written message”, and “a technique for expressing ideas effectively”. Communication is an essential skill, not only in your personal and community relationships but also in your workplace.  Do you stop and truly listen to those around you?  If you remain quiet and listen to what your colleagues and work friends talk about, it may surprise you that communication, or lack of it, is often referred to. How can communication in the workplace improve?  If you are an employer, director, manager, supervisor, or team leader, make time in your diary to ensure you meet with your staff/team.  Don’t talk down to them, ask them questions about how they view the company/business/organization, ask them how they view communication between the different areas of the business.  You may choose to

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘intentional’?  Do you think, being purposeful, or taking a deliberate action that lines up with your beliefs, and values? Many people have heard or read the verse from Proverbs 16:3, which states, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” One passage that has been important to me is from Philippians 4:6-7, which states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If we are not intentional then we simply flounder, make sub-standard decisions that cause distress to those around us, and make a mark against our character. Being intentional, as stated in the  dictionary , says “done with intention or on purpose”. So, what does this mean for you and me? Are we intentional? Does what we do matter?  I believe tha